Media|Statue of Girl Confronts Bull, Captivating Manhattanites and Social Media

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Statue of Girl Confronts Bull, Captivating Manhattanites and Social Media

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As many American women prepare to draw attention to their role in the workplace, a Wall Street firm put up a statue of a girl in front of Lower Manhattan’s bronze bull, fearlessly staring it down.CreditCreditBrendan Mcdermid/Reuters

At just over four feet tall, she appears ready to take the bull by its horns.

A bronze statue of a girl, fists on her hips, staring down the famous 7,000-pound “Charging Bull” sculpture near Wall Street, captivated passers-by on Wednesday and drew an overwhelming response online, where many viewed it as a powerful symbol for International Women’s Day.

Stories and images of the statue, called “Fearless Girl” and placed on behalf of the investment firm State Street Global Advisors, trended on Facebook and appeared thousands of times on Instagram and Twitter, garnering praise from women including Chelsea Clinton and the actress Jessica Chastain, who called for it to remain in Lower Manhattan beyond its one-week permit. The statue already has its own Wikipedia page.

It was a hit as a marketing stunt, initiated by the advertising agency McCann New York and State Street Global Advisors, which is the asset management arm of State Street.

State Street Global Advisors, which is based in Boston, has been a vocal advocate for gender diversity at companies, pushing for more women on boards and in leadership roles, and was looking for a unique way to highlight that message, said Stephen Tisdalle, its chief marketing officer. The agency has three women on its 11-member board, according to its website.

“What this girl represents is the present, but also the future,” Mr. Tisdalle said in an interview, adding that the firm was open to making the statue a permanent fixture. “She’s not angry at the bull — she’s confident, she knows what she’s capable of, and she’s wanting the bull to take note.”

He added, “We thought this was the most tasteful, respectful and effective way for us and others to participate in the national dialogue around International Women’s Day,” on Wednesday.

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A statue called “Fearless Girl” enchanted passers-by on Wednesday. The chief marketing officer of State Street Global Advisors, which had the statue placed on its behalf, said the firm was open to making the statue a permanent fixture.CreditDrew Angerer/Getty Images

“Fearless Girl” was modeled and cast by the artist Kristen Visbal, who told The Wall Street Journal that the statue was based on a friend’s 7-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old Latina. The statue was installed between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. Tuesday, mimicking the surprise placement of the bull in 1989 by the sculptor Arturo Di Modica.

The early reception for the 50-inch statue has been better than that for her 11-foot-tall rival.

Mr. Di Modica’s bull, which he said was a symbol of the “strength and power of the American people” after the stock market crash of 1987, was initially carted away after its surprise debut outside the New York Stock Exchange. Less than a week later, it was relocated to Bowling Green, where it has become an often-photographed mainstay.

“This is a piece of work all women of any age, shape, color or creed can relate to,” Ms. Visbal said of her statue in a statement. “A work which reminds us today’s working woman is here to stay and has taken her place in the nation’s financial district.”

State Street Global Advisors is working on extending the permit for the statue to a month based on its popularity.

“If the public feels that this is going to help further the cause and be an inspiration — like the bull was when it was installed back in 1989, about the can-do spirit of America — and that this is just keeping that dream alive, we would very much be open to continuing it,” Mr. Tisdalle said. “It’s really a decision for New York City.”